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China  In^itute 

In  America  12’ 3  7 . 


,W 


119  West  57th  Street 
New  York  City 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2020  with  funding  from 
Columbia  University  Libraries 


https://archive.org/details/chinainstitutein00chin_1 


THE  CHINA  INSTITUTE  IN  AMERICA 

By  Eugene  Shen,  Ph.D., 

Secretary  to  China  Institute  in  America. 

XT  is  a  generally  recognized  fact  that  the  history  of  Chinese- 
American  relationship  has  been  marked  by  a  sustained  feeling  of 
friendliness.  Such  mutual  good  feeling,  however,  should  be  supported 
by  a  broader  understanding  of  each  other’s  culture  and  institutions. 
This  need  is  at  least  partly  met  by  the  creation  of  the  China  Institute 
in  America. 

The  China  Institute  came  into  existence  in  May,  1926,  as  the  result  of 
a  resolution  adopted  by  the  Trustees  of  the  China  Foundation  for  the 
Promotion  of  Education  and  Culture.  This  Foundation  was  created  in 
1924  to  administer  the  funds  from  the  second  remission  of  the  Ameri¬ 
can  portion  of  the  Boxer  Indemnity.  Aside  from  grants  to  various 
universities  and  other  educational  organizations,  the  China  Institute, 
like  the  Metropolitan  Library  and  the  Department  of  Social  Research, 
is  an  enterprise  which  the  Foundation  has  directly  undertaken.  The 
general  aim  of  the  Institute  is  to  promote  a  closer  educational  and 
cultural  relationship  between  China  and  the  United  States.  As  con¬ 
ceived  by  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Foundation,  there  are  four  lines 
of  activities  which  the  Institute  should  undertake: 

1.  The  dissemination  of  information  concerning  Chinese  and 
American  education. 

2.  The  promotion  of  a  closer  relationship  between  Chinese  and 
American  educational  institutions  through  the  exchange  of 
professors  and  students. 

3.  Assisting  Chinese  students  in  America  in  their  educational 
pursuits,  and  also  helping  American  students  interested  in 
the  study  of  things  Chinese. 

4.  The  stimulation  of  general  interest  in  America  in  the  study 
of  Chinese  culture. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  elected  as  the  Director  of  the  Institute  Dr.  P. 
W.  Kuo,  who  has  been  deeply  interested  in  the  promotion  of  friendly 
relations  between  China  and  America.  During  the  two  and  a  half 
years  of  its  existence,  the  Institute  has  been  quite  fortunate  in  securing 
the  cooperation  of  various  Chinese  and  American  organizations  as  well 
as  individuals  in  its  efforts  to  realize  the  aims  for  which  it  was  estab¬ 
lished.  Its  activities  are  best  summarized  according  to  the  four 
divisions  as  already  outlined. 


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(1)  In  the  first  place,  the  Institute  has  acted  as  a  clearing  house  for 
inquiries  concerning  Chinese  and  American  education.  As  far  as 
possible,  such  inquiries  are  answered  by  giving  printed  material  and 
furnishing  references  to  other  sources.  An  outstanding  event  which 
may  be  mentioned  under  this  topic  is  the  organization  in  1926  of  the 
Chinese  educational  exhibits  in  the  Sesqui-Centennial  Exposition  in 
Philadelphia.  The  exhibits  were  administered  by  the  Institute  upon 
the  request  of  the  Chinese  National  Association  for  the  Advance¬ 
ment  of  Education  which  was  responsible  for  the  collection  and  send¬ 
ing  of  the  material.  The  exhibits  attempted  to  convey  to  the  Amer¬ 
ican  public  the  idea  of  the  continuity  of  Chinese  culture,  of  the  rapid 
progress  in  modern  education,  and  of  the  evolution  of  a  new  Chinese 
civilization  as  a  result  of  contacts  with  the  West.  It  received  con¬ 
siderable  attention  from  visitors  and  called  forth  not  a  few  favorable 
comments.  The  International  Jury  awarded  a  Grand  Prize  to  China 
"for  the  development  of  a  comprehensive  system  of  public  education,” 
and  the  Institute  received  a  Medal  of  Elonor  for  "its  unique  and  orig¬ 
inal  presentation  of  the  Chinese  Educational  Exhibits.”  Diplomas 
were  also  awarded  to  the  thirty-five  educational  institutions  and  or¬ 
ganizations  which  collaborated  in  furnishing  the  material  for  the 
exhibits. 

(2)  For  the  past  several  years  educational  work  in  China  has  been 
carried  on  under  such  adverse  conditions  that  the  establishing  of  ex¬ 
change  professorships  with  American  universities  is  obviously  im¬ 
practicable.  Nevertheless,  the  China  Foundation  was  able  to  secure 
Professor  J.  G.  Needham  of  Cornell  University  to  lecture  and  direct 
research  in  biology,  and  the  Chinese  National  Association  for  the 
Advancement  of  Education  invited  Professor  W.  H.  Kilpatrick  of 
Teachers’  College,  Columbia  University,  to  make  a  lecture  tour  on 
education.  A  number  of  other  American  educators  who  visited  China 
were  extended  assistance  by  the  Institute.  Similar  assistance  was  ex¬ 
tended  to  a  number  of  Chinese  educators  visiting  America.  During 
the  present  year,  we  have  in  America  Mr.  Y.  C.  James  Yen,  Director 
of  the  National  Association  for  the  Mass  Education  Movement,  and 
Professor  William  Hung  of  Yenching  University,  who  is  with  the 
School  of  Chinese  Studies  at  Harvard  University.  Dr.  Hu  Shih  has 
been  offered  the  Haskell  Lectureship  from  the  University  of  Chicago 
for  1929.  The  Institute  has  also  assisted  several  American  universities 
in  securing  instructors  in  their  departments  of  Chinese. 

(3)  In  regard  to  Chinese  students  in  America,  the  Institute  has  also 
tried  to  be  of  assistance  in  a  number  of  ways.  Considerable  corres- 


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pondence  has  been  carried  on  to  facilitate  the  admission  of  Chinese 
students  in  American  colleges  and  universities,  to  give  introductions 
and  testimonies,  to  assist  advanced  students  to  secure  opportunities  for 
practical  experience,  and  to  adjust  difficulties  which  sometimes  arose 
with  the  immigration  authorities.  The  Institute  also  participated  in 
the  administration  of  a  loan  fund  which  was  specially  created  for 
emergency  aid  to  Chinese  students.  Assistance  to  American  students 
interested  in  Chinese  studies  chiefly  consisted  in  answering  inquiries  and 
furnishing  references  to  original  sources  of  information. 

(4)  The  general  public  in  America  has  been  very  much  interested  in 
the  study  of  China’s  conditions,  especially  those  relating  to  political 
and  international  affairs.  The  Institute  received  a  large  number  of 
requests  for  speakers  on  these  topics.  Such  requests  were  as  far  as 
possible  complied  with,  either  by  members  of  the  Institute  staff  or  by 
others  recommended  for  their  special  qualifications.  Dr.  Kuo  has, 
since  the  establishment  of  the  Institute,  addressed  many  audiences  in 
different  parts  of  the  country.  Such  efforts  cannot  but  create  a  clearer 
and  more  sympathetic  understanding  of  China  by  the  American  people 
and  the  results  must  be  very  far-reaching.  Further  American  in¬ 
terest  in  the  study  of  Chinese  culture  is  shown  by  the  recent  estab¬ 
lishment  of  the  Harvard- Yenching  Institute  of  Chinese  Studies,  made 
possible  by  the  action  of  the  trustees  of  the  estate  of  the  late  Charles 
M.  Hall.  A  number  of  Americans  and  Chinese  have  expressed  their 
desire  to  create  some  organization  on  the  Pacific  Coast  to  cooperate 
with  the  Institute,  and  students  in  the  University  of  California  inter¬ 
ested  in  China  are  organizing  a  club  for  the  study  of  Chinese  culture. 
The  Institute  has  recently  undertaken  to  make  a  survey  of  the  Amer¬ 
ican  colleges  and  universities  in  regard  to  courses  of  instruction  which 
relate  to  China’s  cultural  background  as  well  as  China’s  present  con¬ 
ditions. 

Besides  the  activities  outlined  above  under  the  four  divisions,  there  are 
items  in  the  program  of  the  Institute  which  do  not  relate  to  any  one 
of  the  four  lines  in  particular.  At  irregular  intervals,  the  Institute 
published  a  number  of  bulletins.  One  of  these,  Bulletin  4,  is  a  list  of 
"'Theses  and  Dissertations  by  Chinese  Students  in  America,”  which 
includes  five  hundred  and  sixty-eight  titles.  About  one  hundred  and 
fifty  additional  titles  have  since  been  collected,  including  both  old  ones 
which  came  in  too  late  to  be  printed  in  the  list  and  new  ones  which 
are  completed  since  its  publication.  Another,  Bulletin  5,  is  a  list  of 
"One  Hundred  Selected  Books  on  China,”  collected  and  annotated  for 
reference  for  the  general  public.  Demands  for  this  list  have  been 
so  many  that  a  revised  edition  will  have  to  be  issued  in  the  near  future. 


In  attempting  to  realize  its  aims  and  to  carry  out  its  activities,  the 
Institute  endeavors  to  cooperate  with  organizations  having  similar 
interests  and  purposes.  It  has  received  assistance  and  cooperation 
from  such  organizations  as  the  Institute  of  International  Education, 
the  International  Institute,  the  China  Society  of  America,  the  Amer¬ 
ican  Friends  of  China  Society,  The  Institute  of  Pacific  Relations,  and 
the  World  Federation  of  Education  Associations.  A  plan  is  now  being 
contemplated  for  a  closer  cooperation  with  the  Institute  of  Pacific 
Relations.  The  Institute,  of  course,  is  also  cooperating  with  organ¬ 
izations  in  China,  such  as  the  National  Association  for  the  Advance¬ 
ment  of  Education,  the  National  Committee  of  Chinese  Y.  M.  C.  A.’s, 
and  the  World’s  Chinese  Students  Federation.  In  the  Second  Biennial 
Meeting  of  the  World  Federation  of  Education  Associations  held  in 
Toronto,  August  7th-12th,  1927,  the  Institute  cooperated  with  the 
Chinese  National  Association  for  the  Advancement  of  Education  in 
organizing  a  delegation  to  represent  China  at  the  various  groups  in  the 
meeting. 

In  various  other  ways,  the  Institute  has  attempted  to  be  generally  use¬ 
ful  in  promoting  a  better  relationship  between  China  and  the  United 
States.  On  several  occasions  the  Institute  has  lodged  protest  against 
certain  motion  picture  films  which  present  wrong  ideas  of  China  to 
the  American  public,  resulting  in  revisions  of  the  films.  It  has  also 
acted  as  a  representative  for  the  China  Foundation,  and  assisted  in  dis¬ 
seminating  information  and  making  investigation  in  the  United  States. 
It  made  a  survey  of  the  situation  preliminary  to  the  creation  of  science 
fellowships  by  the  China  Foundation. 

The  Institute  has  so  far  remained  a  direct  enterprise  of  the  China 
Foundation.  At  the  last  meeting  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Foundation  in 
June,  Dr.  Kuo  submitted  a  proposal  whereby  the  Institute  might  in 
time  become  self-supporting  and  render  a  greater  service.  A  mem¬ 
bership  would  be  created,  and  a  board  of  directors  with  a  secretariat 
would  be  established.  The  Trustees  of  the  China  Foundation  have 
already  accepted  the  recommendation  and  have  authorized  Dr.  Kuo  to 
work  out  the  details  with  the  Director  of  the  Foundation. 

If  this  plan  will  materialize  and  if  sufficient  funds  can  be  raised,  larger 
quarters  or  a  special  building  will  be  secured  and  the  program  of  the 
Institute  can  be  broadened  and  more  vigorously  carried  out.  The 
projected  plan  is  to  include  the  following  items  of  activities: 

I.  To  promote: 

1.  The  exchange  of  professors  between  Chinese  and  American 
educational  institutions. 


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2.  The  creation  of  fellowships  and  scholarships  for  Chinese  to 
study  in  American  colleges  and  universities. 

3.  The  creation  of  fellowships  and  scholarships  for  Americans 
to  study  in  China. 

4.  The  study  of  Chinese  culture  in  American  educational  in¬ 
stitutions. 

5.  Lectures  on  Chinese  subjects. 

6.  Conferences  on  problems  relating  to  Chinese-American 
relationship. 

7.  Exhibits  of  Chinese  art,  education,  and  other  phases  of  Chinese 
civilization. 

8.  Better  publications,  plays,  pictures,  etc.,  relating  to  China. 

II.  To  maintain: 

1.  A  reference  library  and  research  department. 

2.  An  information  service. 

3.  A  lecture  bureau. 

4.  A  travel  service. 

5.  An  appointment  agency  to  serve  Chinese  organizations  seek¬ 
ing  proper  American  trained  men. 

6.  A  student  section  to  promote  the  intellectual  and  social 
welfare  of  the  Chinese  students  in  America. 

7.  A  section  to  promote  the  welfare  of  Chinese  residents  in 
America. 

8.  An  American  section  to  keep  in  touch  with  Americans  who 
either  have  been  to  China  or  are  otherwise  interested  in  China, 
and  to  seek  their  cooperation. 

III.  To  publish: 

1.  Monographs  on  special  subjects  relating  to  China  and  Chi¬ 
nese  culture. 

2.  A  periodical  devoted  to  shorter  articles,  discussions,  and  items 
of  current  interest  relating  to  China  and  Chinese  culture. 

A  program  like  this  of  course  cannot  be  carried  out  all  in  one  day. 
But,  judging  from  the  interest  shown  by  so  many  people  in  the  present 
Institute,  it  will  undoubtedly  receive  the  most  hearty  support  in  var¬ 
ious  quarters.  Dr.  Kuo  has  consulted  many  prominent  people  both 
in  this  country  and  in  China  in  regard  to  this  proposed  program,  and 
has  received  much  encouragement. 

It  is  also  within  the  scope  of  the  plan  to  establish  an  American  Insti- 


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tute  in  China  to  reciprocate  the  work  of  the  China  Institute  in 
America.  American  friends  of  China  like  Dr.  Paul  Monroe,  Dr. 
Edward  H.  Hume,  and  others,  are  very  much  interested  in  the  crea¬ 
tion  of  such  an  institute,  which  will  certainly  also  receive  support 
from  people  in  China.  The  two  institutes  can  then  intimately  co¬ 
operate  with  each  other  in  their  common  task  of  promoting  a  better 
understanding  between  the  two  peoples  on  both  sides  of  the  Pacific. 


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